Hope Pro Levers

Pulled the bike out of the shed this morning and looks likely pro lever has gone very sticky. Had the brakes 8 years and serviced the calipers regularly but I’ve never serviced the levers. Anyway I don’t think the cylinder is returning so looks like an over haul. So got a few queries as I can’t find online service guides:
A) how do I get the cylinder out of the lever body? Presumably I can push it out from the reservoir but need to check.
B) there’s a spring noted on the exploded diagram between the cylinder and the reservoir. It’s not included in rebuild kit so. Don’t know how essential it is to replace in comparison to the seals which are most likely the culprits.
C) nowhere seems to stock a rebuild kit at the moment. Can only get a top seal from Uk bikes tore. Can I ring Hope directly to get them or do I have to get a shop to order them in from Hope?

Anyone (bump)?

Once you’ve removed the lever blade, remove what’s left of the rubber boot, and you should find a circlip.Remove it, and the piston assembly should slide outon it’s own, but if it’s stuck you may need to blow it out using air pressure through the hose fitting. Likely causes of it being stuck are corrosion of the bore(lever’s scrap), seals contaminated and swollen, or spring rusted through. Think we’ve still got some replacement parts for these in our spares box at Sunset, but i’d need measurements to be sure.

Thanks Coatesy, I’ll dismantle tonight and have a gander. I took the lever apart a few weeks ago to clean the bushes etc and the cylinder does pop out a fair bit but not all the way. Will try and blow it oout and see how that goes and get back to you. Many thanks

Managed to get time to have a look tonight piston came out after a few attempts. Everything seems ok with it. The base of the spring is a little scratched up but think it will last a bit longer. But of dodgy wear inside cylinder but presumably from the spring. Got a seal kit coming (fingers crossed) so that’ll hopefully sort them

Get some silicone grease for the seals too, much better than lubing them with brake fluid.

Thanks Coatesy

coatesy.Which silicon grease do you recommend to lube up piston seals bud.
I bought some and it was stickier than a stick.
Bought the wrong one i think…….
Need to revitalize a set of juicys.
Cheers bud…

We use Hunters in the shop, get it trade from Hope (it’s not the same stuff they use though, that’s specific brake assembly grease that, I was told, retails at around £80 per kilo).You should be able to get something from a plumbers suppliers, apparently used for assembly of plastic fittings, my own tub cost about a fiver,and will last me for years by the look of it.

Brilliant..
Thanks a lot coatesy 🙂
Is silicon spray a no go.?

No reason not to use it I suppose, but be careful with the overspray, it’s not good on the friction surfaces.

Thanks bud…

Levers rebuilt now. Seems ok, nice and solid although did a half arsed job of bleeding it. Got new pads to put in front and rear so will do a proper job at some point over the weekend if I get a chance.

Replaced the pads front and rear today and realised that one of the pistons on the rear calliper isn’t returning properly. Seals were only changed a little while back so can only presume there’s an issue with the piston itself. Can’t fully push it back into the calliper – annoying!